Growing in the Present Moment

I planted onions two weeks ago and put them out in the little greenhouse.  Nothing.  Not a single little shoot.  Hmpf.  It says germination is 7-14 days, but I'm thinking it's not going to happen.  I'll bring them indoors and see if things change.  

The sun came out for a while so we headed out.  The goat heads have already taken off.  I can't stand goat heads.  After the satisfaction of pulling those nasty weeds out, we get a second satisfaction as the chickens enjoyed some fresh green.

It's been over a week and time to turn the cheeses.  When I'm diligent about getting to them, almost no mold forms, but when I lolly-gag they get mold patches.  The mold comes off easily with a vinegar wipe, but still. 

We tested Christina's milk and it shows "weak positive," consistent with the state lab's results.  We have several options but one requiring the least effort is to treat her with antibiotics and throw the milk out for four days.  We decided to do it this evening after milking.  The antibiotics are easy to give, just fit a little tip into each teet and squirt it in.  We are greatful to have time off from cheese-making as we get the garden in, but rationing milk is another shift.

The spiritual masters speak repeatedly about living in the present moment.  God is with us every moment; looking at the past we can remember God's loving action and looking to the future we can anticipate the path God has laid for us, but God is most accessible in the present moment.  This living with constant shifts pulls me into the present moment without the effort of will power.  We garden when the weather says.  We harvest when it's ready.  We deal with lots of milk and then we suddenly change when it stops.  Family life pulls you to the present too, but there is a new intensity to the present that this life has given us.  I am going slowly, but I am going.